Term
| Fundamental Attribution Error |
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Definition
• Strong tendency to overestimate dispositional factors & underestimate situational factors in attributions of others behaviors
o I.e. we tend to attribute others’ behaviors to their personalities and character, not the context of the behavior
• Examples: Ignoring the pro-/anti- essay assignment, or the quizmaster/answerer role assignment |
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Term
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Definition
• The tendency of people to believe they are above average in valued domains
o A.K.A. The “Lake Wobegon Effect”: “Where are all the children are above-average.”
• Several amusing examples…
o Most people believe they are more popular than average
o More attractive
o Better drivers
o Most professors believe they are above-average teachers |
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Term
| Diffusion of Responsibility |
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Definition
• Why would someone not intervene? Lack of empathy or concern. Afraid of retribution. But these were not the case with Genovese
• Latane and Darley offered a different explanation (1968; 1970)
o The “diffusion of responsibility”
o As group size increases, each persons feeling of responsibility (and expectation of blame) decreases
o Thus, as group size increases, the odds of any given person intervening decreases |
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Term
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Definition
• Conformity to the views or expectations of others in pursuit of social approval (avoidance of disapproval)
• Groups create more normative influence than just a bunch of individuals
• When your view will be anonymous, less normative influence
• Normative pressure to voice your own opinion reduces normative influence
• Uncertainty increases normative influence
• Others’ uncertainty decreases their normative influence on you
• What factors affect normative conformity?
o Group size
o Group unanimity
o Group solidarity/cohesion
o The individual’s identification with the group
o The relative status of the individual vis-à-vis the group
o Investment/commitment to the group
(e.g. Asch) |
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Term
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Definition
• Use of others’ behavior or attitudes as information or evidence about reality
• What factors affect informational conformity?
o Perceived intelligence/competence of others relative to you
o Number of others
o Unanimity of others
o One’s own uncertainty
(e.g. Sherif) |
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Term
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Definition
• The purposeful breaking of social norms
• Useful for…
o Identifying what is and is not a norm
o Studying how norms and conformity are upheld in society
• What’s a norm?
o “rules, about which there is some degree of consensus, that are enforced through social sanctions” (Horne 2001)
• Really people just have to think they are enforced
o Politeness norms generally are not enforced |
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